Like tens of thousands of other South Carolinians, I went to the State Fair in Columbia a few weeks ago. It was great fun, and all the usual attractions were there. But there was something new this year -- and it was hot.

A service to celebrate the life of Jessica Lane Hinson, 28, will be held Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Powers Funeral Home, Lugoff with burial to follow in Forest lawn memorial park. The Rev. John Wesley Culp will officiate. The family will receive friends Friday 6-8 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

A funeral service to celebrate the life of Katie Wilkins Clayton, 92, of Bethune, SC, will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, December 14, 2013 at Bethune Baptist Church in Bethune. Chaplin Brian Ogburn and Jackie Knight will officiate. Burial will follow in Scotch Cemetery in Bethune. The family will receive friends at 12:30 PM on Saturday, prior to the service in the church Fellowship Hall. Memorials may be made in her memory to Bethune Baptist Church, 304 Blackmon Street, Bethune, SC 29009. .

Mr. Daniel Washington, 53, entered into rest on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at KershawHealth. Arrangements will be announced later. Professional Services are entrusted to Cooke Funeral Home. www.cookefuneralhomeofcamden.com.

The Lugoff Fire Department (LFD) will have the honor of escorting Santa Claus through the neighborhoods in Lugoff again this year. Santa will be escorted through different areas of the Lugoff community each night. Lugoff firefighters enjoy this event each year so children can have the opportunity to see the "Jolly One" before he comes on Christmas night.

Local artist and gardener Brenda Konitzer will sign her new cookbook What's Cooking at Dry Branch Ranch? Saturday, 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Books on Broad at 944 Broad St, in Camden. Books will be available for purchase and autographing. Samples from some of the book's recipes, such as pumpkin bread, mushroom and onion dip and seafood pizza dip will be available.

Guns in schools is always a touchy subject, and of course it was newsworthy when a Camden Middle School student recently was apprehended at school with a loaded .38 caliber revolver as well as a box cutter. We have all read too many incidents of horrific school shootings across the country, so parents and other citizens are sensitive to security in schools. Local law enforcement authorities say school administrators handled the situation well and praised the school's staff, headed by principal Byron Johnson, for doing "a great job."

We wish to express our gratitude to the community, schools, law enforcement, emergency and fire departments, the church community and friends of Rob Evans. Words cannot describe how much we appreciate your kindness and sympathy during our recent loss. All of you reached out to us in many different ways and demonstrated kindness that will not be forgotten. Especially meaningful were the stories you shared with us about Rob and how he touched your lives in some way.

Taking the early lead and not giving it up, the North Central boys' basketball team evened its record after two games with a 61-51 victory over host McBee in a non-region game played last Thursday night.